The mum of an Edinburgh busker who vanished without a trace 12 weeks ago has made a heartbreaking appeal for help finding her “best friend”.
Lewis Cuthbert, 25, who was known to busk in Glasgow and Edinburgh city centres, was last seen at about 4pm on Monday, August 4 in the Lesmahagow Road area of Strathaven, Lanarkshire.
Police Scotland ramped up an “extensive” operation to trace him last month, saying they had spoken to hundreds of people while trawling CCTV footage and using specialist search teams, including drones and quad bikes, but there have so far been no confirmed sightings.
It also emerged that officers were focusing enquiries on the same Rutherglen property as their investigation into the murder of Graham Wright, 38, after body parts were found at Loch Lomond last month, reports the Record.
Now, Lewis’ mother Rosemary has made an emotional appeal to bring him home.
She said: “Lewis is outgoing, very trusting. His brother, dad, grandparents, his extended family and all his friends are worried sick.
“We really want him back and think about him every day. He is my best friend.”
Lewis is described as 5ft 10in and slim with short brown hair.
He is believed to have been wearing a brown cord jacket with a sheepskin collar and carrying a backpack with a Bluetooth speaker and microphone when he was last seen.
Ch Insp Paul Doyle, local area commander, said last month that the force had dedicated “significant resources” to finding Lewis and urging the public to come forward with any information.
Last week it emerged that detectives probing the death of Graham Wright were understood to have searched a flat previously linked to the inquiry into Lewis’ disappearance.
Since the discovery of body parts at Rubha Dubh near Firkin Point on September 13, a one-bed property in Rutherglen had reportedly been the focus of police activity.
Officers are understood to have spoken to neighbours of the same flat about the disappearance of Lewis.
A man and woman have been arrested in connection with Graham’s death.
Earlier this month, Lewis’ mum thanked those who had supported the search for her son.
In an appeal, she said: “Lewis if you can see this please get in touch, we love and miss you more than you will ever know.
“Please get in contact if you have any information, no matter how unimportant it may seem about Lewis.
“We are desperate for him to come home.”
The charity Missing People has renewed its appeal for information on Lewis’ whereabouts.
It said in an appeal: “Do you think you may have seen Lewis? If so, please contact us on 116 000 with your sighting. Any little detail could help.”
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